Blue Rodeo

Sleeman Centre
Guelph, Ontario
November 5, 2005

I really wasn't expecting this photo pass at all. I was hoping to shoot the opening act, Cuff the Duke, for their web site seeing as I know the drummer and I thought their site was lacking of decent live photos in a big way. I got turned down by Cuff's manager for the pass even though I offered FREE photos for their web site. I guess the guy was a little nervous and didn't know what he could ask for and didn't wanna step on anyone's toes so he just cancelled out on the deal. The morning of the show I get an email from Blue Rodeo's people telling me I'm in!! Well aint it great when a plan comes together in the end? I'd never shot inside the GSEC (Guelph Sports and Entertainment Centre) before so I was kinda happy about getting this pass just to see what the people were like to work with and how the place sounded. Turns out they were all a great bunch of people, right from the beer girls to the security guards. The sound was great and the venue is big enough yet small enough to keep it somewhat intimate.

This must have been the year of eye openers cuz again, I discovered my fuckin eyeballs have been shut when it comes to Blue Rodeo AND Cuff the Duke. Even though I know the drummer in Cuff the Duke, I hadn't heard a single note from anything they'd ever played!! I didn't know if they were gonna be the greatest band in the world or if they were gonna blow chunks Garth! Turns out they were damn good and now I'm feeling obligated to go and buy their CD cuz I like supporting stuff I wanna hear more of. After Cuff left the stage, I geared up for the old 3 song shoot. Yeah that's right.. 3 fuckin songs. I normally don't DO the 3 fuckin songs cuz that's for asshole newspaper reporters and other "media" personnel. I really do take it offensively when someone refers to me as "media" cuz I HATE the media. They cause half the shit in this world I swear.

Don't get me started on those assholes. They're the same bastards who chase down people to get pictures in tabloids. They're the same ones who start dumb ass rumours that ruin people's lives. Fuck I hate the media.... ANYWAY... the guys from Blue Rodeo casually saunter up to the stage and strap on their instruments smilin all the way. You know when a guy straps on his guitar and he's smiling about it, he's having FUN! STILL... These guys been doing this for a long time and they looked like they were really having a good time with it and that is great. I had no idea how many tunes Blue Rodeo were gonna play that I'd recognize but they really just kept pulling them outta the bag. Tune after tune that you say to yourself, "I know that one, I know that one, I know that one..." I mean they are constantly on the radio. So often you don't even notice I guess. Kinda like the train that rumbles by my backyard every few hours... I don't even notice it anymore. Every now and again the train blasts it's horn at some dumb bastard on the track and THAT'S when you look over hoping not to see someone standing in the Jesus Christ pose in the middle of the track.

Anyway, I was really happy to have finally gotten in front of another group of Canadian legends to see what they're all about. What a band. 6 guys in perfect synch. Real good musicians... not a bum in the crowd. Most bands have at least ONE bum. You can point the fucker out pretty quick cuz it's usually the guy with the track marks all down his arms wearing the Sid Vicious t-shirt and drooling all down the side of his instrument. No Sid Vicious bums here. No family friends or he's been in the band forever and once saved my sister from drowning so we HAVE to keep him in the band, guys here at all. Just straight up damn fine rock/country/blues played by some real decent guys.

Let me tell you just how decent... A buddy of mine who collects autographs once was hanging out in London trying to get the guys from Blue Rodeo to sign a bunch of stuff for him. Albums, photos, whatever he had... he usually goes overboard but that's his obsession, leave the fuckin guy alone unless the band doesn't wanna deal with him right? Well some dickhead security guy with "the promoter" shall we say, was hassling the fuck outta buddy trying to make it impossible for him to get his autographs and out steps Jim Cuddy. Jim goes over to the dickhead and tells him, "don't bother these people, their friends of ours!" and he proceeds to go over and sign every last tidbit buddy had that could possibly be signed. Posed for pictures, etc etc... THAT'S one human lookin out for another. THAT'S a guy who's respected. Not some cross eyed fuck who's trying to justify his existence by being a total asshole to the people who are buying the tickets "the promoter" is selling. Blue Rodeo is alright in my books. End of story.

Last 3 shots taken by Bubbles

Blue Rodeo Official Web Site

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